RAF Waddington hosts French Air Force invasion of Mirage 2000Ns and Jaguar Jets seeking a splash and dash during Brilliant Foil 1994 Exercise

Brilliant Foil 1994 was held at the beginning of October 1994, coinciding with the ACMI deployment of French Mirage 2000s at RAF Waddington and a deployment of Spanish EF-18s at RAF Coningsby. It was the first Brilliant Foil exercise, replacing Exercise Priory and Elder Forest. The French Air Force, AdlA, flew multiple missions to the UK during Brilliant Foil 1994 with Mirage 2000Ns, Mirage F1Cs, and Jaguar aircraft from the French Tactical Air Commands EC.3, EC.4, EC.11, and Mirage F-1Cs from EC.33. 

On October 4th, 5th, and 6th, they made quick turnaround landings at RAF Waddington for a Splash and Dash before heading home to their home bases. RAF Waddington was the preferred base for refuelling the Brilliant Foil 1994 participating French jets as there were already French Air Force ground crews present for the ACMI deployment that was in progress.

For the few aviation photographers and enthusiasts who lined the perimeter hedge at the runway 21 end (20 Today) on those October mornings, it was an exciting wait to see these multi-camouflaged jets, as many were still wearing their 1991 Desert Storm (Gulf War) sand coloured camouflage.

I photographed two Spanish Ala 15 EF-18As from Zaragoza Air Base at RAF Waddington, so they were also there for ACMI training. They were not from the five seen at RAF Coningsby from Ala12 Madrid/Torrejón.

Just to complete the picture, German Marine Tornados down the road at RAF Cottesmore and Norwegian F-16s up at RAF Leeming were all participating in Brilliant Foil 1994. 

The images below come from Slide film and were mainly taken on the 4th of October in some reasonable sunshine. The Mirage F-1Cs from EC.33 were on the 6th and not photographed. I hope you will enjoy a look back at those great times.

A160/11-RT Jaguar A EC.11Armée de l'Air.

A89/11-RE Jaguar A EC.11 Armée de l'Air.

A94/11-RN Jaguar A EC.11 Armée de l'Air.

A135/11-RJ Jaguar A EC.11 Armée de l'Air.

335/4-BJ Mirage 2000N EC.4 Armée de l'Air.

342/4-AG Mirage 2000N EC.4 Armée de l'Air.

372/4-BR Mirage 2000N EC.4 Armée de l'Air.

336/4-BP Mirage 2000N EC.4 Armée de l'Air.

332/3-JQ Mirage 2000N EC.3 Armée de l'Air.

348/3-JA Mirage 2000N EC.3 Armée de l'Air.

358/3-JG Mirage 2000N EC.3 Armée de l'Air.

342/4-AG Mirage 2000N EC.4 Armée de l'Air.

335/4-BJ Mirage 2000N EC.4 Armée de l'Air.

335/4-BJ Mirage 2000N EC.4 Armée de l'Air.

344/4-AJ Mirage 2000N EC.4 Armée de l'Air.

336/4-BP Mirage 2000N EC.4 Armée de l'Air.

In the jelly zone and one away.

Number two rolling.

Number two is airborne, number three is rolling, and I'm moving before number four re-heats.

C15-35/15-22 EF-18A Ala 15 EdA.

What a great time that was!

Happy Days, and thanks for looking.

International Air Tattoo (IAT) 1991 'Salut to Gulf War'.

The 1991 International Air Tattoo, held at the picturesque RAF Fairford, stands out as one of the most remarkable military airshows in history. This year’s event was characterized by two distinct and captivating themes. The first, a heartfelt 'Salute to the Gulf War,' reflected the ongoing conflict that had unfolded since the last time we gathered at IAT. This theme was vividly represented by an impressive lineup of vivid pink-colored fighter jets and support aircraft, each bearing the marks of their recent service in the Gulf.

The second theme, 'Tiger Meet,' was hosted by the illustrious 74 Tiger Squadron of the Royal Air Force, based at RAF Wattisham and renowned for their Phantoms. This theme brought forth an extraordinary display of aircraft adorned in striking tiger-themed color schemes, captivating the audience with their eye-catching designs. Among the stars of the show were two magnificently painted aircraft from the French Armée de l'Air: a Mirage F1C and a Fouga CM-170R, each featuring exquisite artistry that paid homage to the Tiger Meet tradition.

I have previously explored the fascinating details of the 'Tiger Meet' event, and I will share that link for those interested below.

https://legendarymilavia.blogspot.com/2020/03/tiger-meet-mini-raf-fairford-iat-1991.html

Now, let us turn our attention to the diverse array of aircraft that gathered at the unforgettable 1991 International Air Tattoo.

ZA395/N Tornado GR1A 2Sqn RAF.

Status: Scrapped.

ZA465/FK Tornado GR1 16Sqn RAF.

Status: Preserved at the IWM Duxford with the code (FF).

ZD951 Tristar K1 216Sqn RAF.

Status: Scrapped.

XT899/B Phantom FGR2 19Sqn RAF.

Status: To the Czech Air Force Museum at Kbely.

ZA606 Tornado GR1 45Sqn 75th Anniversary livery RAF.

Status: Scrapped.

ZE785/AO Tornado F3 229 OCU RAF.

Status: Scrapped.

ZE167 Tornado F3 25Sqn RAF.

Status: Scrapped.

XW988 Buccaneer S2B ETPS.

Status; To civil register as ZU-AVI.

ZH102/02 Sentry AEW1 8Sqn RAF.

Status: Was stored at RAF Waddington marked "Dopey".

1407/320 TU-134AK 3 Dopravni Sqn.

Status: To the civil register as EW-65861.

1407/320 TU-134AK 3 Dopravni Sqn Czech Air Force.

2105 AN-12BP 1 Dropravni Sqn Czech Air Force.

Status: To the civil register as LZ-SFU.

4644/246 MiG-23ML 2Sqn/1 Wing Czech Air Force.

Status: Preserved at the Liborzy Letecké Museum in "Tiger Colour scheme"

4644/246 MiG-23ML 2Sqn/1 Wing Czech Air Force.

Status: Preserved at the Liborzy Letecké Museum in "Tiger Colour scheme"

7501 MiG-29 1Sqn/11 Wing Czech Air Force.

Status: Passed to the Slovakian Air Force as 7501 and is today preserved at Sliač Airbase.

MM7037/36-37 Tornado 36º Stormo Italian Air Force.

Status: Preserved at Pratica di Mare with the RSV in 70th Anniversary RSV "fantasy" livery.

 

MM7038/38 36º Stormo ItAF.

Status: Was active in 2018 with GEA6 Stormo.

MM7080/80 Tornado 36º Stormo ItAF,'301' is the Paris airshow number.

Status: Preserved at Aviano.

 

MM7092/RS-14 AMX from the RSV ItAF.

Status: Scrapped.

MM7112/51-52 AMX 51º Stormo ItAF.

Status: Withdrawn from use at Amendola Airbase.

MM6824/53-02 F-104S 53º Stormo ItAF.

Status: Dismantled at Decimomannu Airbase on Sardinia.

65-5911/9-9111 TF104G 192 Filo TurAF.

Status: Preserved at Izmir University, ex 27+82.

63-7037/9-037 F-104G 192 Filo TurAF.

Status: Stored at Diyarbakir, ex 21+68.

2601 T-38A 301Esq PortAF (FAP).

Status: Preserved outside at the Alverca Museum do Ar.

5549 Vought TA-7P Corsair 304 Esq FAP.

Status: Became 15549, later scrapped.

5532 Vought A-7P Corsair 304 Esq FAP departing for its home base at Monte Real.

Status: Became 15532 and later an Instructional airframe.

222 Northrop F-5A 336 Skv RNorAF.

Status: W/O August 1992.

222 and 132 Northrop F-5As 336 Skv RNorAF.

Status: 132 preserved at Ørland with Tiger livery.

J-3091 and J-3084 Northrop F-5Es 11 Staffel SwissAF with 3082 below. If memory serves me, they arrived late and could not be displayed with the other "Tiger" aircraft, so they remained on the Northside.

Status: Both are seen today flying with the Patrouille Suisse.

J-3082 Northrop F-5E 11 Staffel SwissAF. The three F-5Es were quite the stars at that 1991 "Mini Tiger Meet" and IAT.

Status: Still active with the Patrouille Suisse, sadly not 11"Tiger" Staffel.

CS-03 HS748-2A BAF

Status: Sadly, cut up.

BD-03 Mirage 5BD 16 SM BAF. What an exciting takeoff! I managed to cut the tailplane in my excitement.

Status: Sold to the Chilean Air Force as 717.

  

41+63 Alpha Jet A JBG43 WGAF.

Status: Re-registered as 98+63.

45+88 Tornado MFG1 Marineflieger.

Status: Transferred to Luftwaffes TLG33.

C15-36/15-23 EF-18A Ala15 EdA.

 Status: Active.

ET-614 F-16B EsK 726 RDAF.

Status Active.

J-065 F-16B 315 Sqn Royal Netherlands Air Force.

Status: Scrapped.

80-0050/IS F-15C 57FIS AFI USAF.

Status: Preserved at Tyndal AFB ex Pima Museum (TY).

 

80-0042/IS F-15C 57FIS USAF.

Status: To the 95th FS (TY) and now stored 309th AMARG.

87-0337/TJ F-16C 16th AF 612TFS USAFE.

Status: Passed to the 120th FS Colorado ANG (CO) and was W/O 2005.

85-1422/RS F-16C 526th TFS USAFE.

Status: To a QF-16C at Cecil Feild.

80-0003/BT F-15C 36 TFW USAFE.

Status: Passed to the 114th FS Oregan ANG (OR) and to storage with the 309th AMARG.

 

73-0997/PT Vought A-7D Corsair II 112 TFG Pennsylvania ANG.

Status: Scrapped.

71-0362/PT and 73-0997/PT Vought A-7D Corsair II 112 TFG Pennsylvania ANG.

Status: Scrapped.

69-7212/SP F-4G 52 TFW USAFE.

Status: Scrapped.

87-0270/SP F-16C 52TFW USAFE.

Status: Written off 1994.

79-0218/WR A-10A 92TFS USAFE.

Status: Stored 309th AMARG.

71-0884/LN F-111F 492TFS USAFE.

Status: To (CC) and scrapped at 309th AMARG.

83-0502 C-20A USAF.

Status: Active with NASA carries the same serial.

71-0878  C-9A Nightingale 55 AAS USAF.

Status: Preserved at Lackland AFB.

58-0046 KC-135Q (Platsburgh) 380BW.

Status: Active with the 54th ARS.

58-0229 B-52G 97BW USAF arriving at RAF Fairford.

58-0229 B-52G 97BW touching down at RAF Fairford.

Today, 58-0229 is scrapped.

150687/687 JL-04 "Nightrider" KC-130F VR22 USN.

Status: Stored at 309th AMARG.

146454/004 EA-3B VQ2 USN.

146454/004 was one of the show's highlights.

146454/004 EA-3B VQ2 USN.

Status: To Raytheon as N574HA.

164105/105 KC-130T NY-4105 USMC.

Status: Active with VX-20.

551 BAC 1-11 Omani Air Force.

Status: Stored at Seeb.

A20-627 Boeing 707 338C 33Sqn RAAF.

Status: Preserved at Wollongong Airport (NSW).

A97-117/77 C-130E 37Sqn RAAF.

Status: To the Pakistan Air Force as 4177.

6 Super Étendard 17F  FN (Aéronautique Navale). 

                                               Status: It is an Instructional Air Frame at Estairs.

511/2-FH Mirage 2000B EC.2.2 AdlA.

Status: Written off February 02.

512/2-FI Mirage 2000B EC2.2 AdlA

Status: Preserved in Paris and marked 335.

544/312-TM  CM-170R GI312 Adla. One of the four that participated at the "Tiger Meet".

572/AD CM-170R catching the real spirit of a Tiger Meet.

16/12-YH Mirage F1C EC.12 AdlA.

Status: Stored at Rochefort St Agnant.

188169 CF-118A 439Sqn RCAF, one of the four attending the Tiger Meet.

Status: All four are still active with the RCAF. 

Here is the link to the Tiger Meet.

https://legendarymilavia.blogspot.com/2020/03/tiger-meet-mini-raf-fairford-iat-1991.html

Hope you enjoyed it!

Happy Days!